Automatically controlled washing apparatus



Filed Oct. 18, 1946 Nov. 20, 195] CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EARL K.C1 AR K ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

Nov. 20, 1951 E. K. CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR EARL. K. CLARK ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 E. K. CLARK 2,575,704

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES; M? A c5. A. m

INVENTOR EARL K. CLAR K ATTORN EY Nov. 20, 1951 E. K. CLARKAUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 4SheetsSheet 4 DOOR LATCH DRAIN VALVE SOLENOID WATER VALVE soLiNflSOLENOID INVENTOR EARL K. CLARK g 2 ATTORNEY F IG.//.

wrisfiiz Patented Nov. 20, 1951 AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WASHINGAPPARATUS Earl K. Clark, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to WestinghouseElectric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,061

8 Claims.

My invention relates to washing apparatus, more particularly toapparatus for washing tableware and has for an object to provideimproved apparatus of this kind.

A further object of the invention is to prevent access to the washingchamber of an automatically-cycled dishwasher during operation of thewashing means and to automatically open the door of the washing chamberat the conclusion of a washing cycle.

A still further object of the invention is to terminate operation of thewashing means and water-admitting means of a dishwasher of the type setforth, incidental to the unlatching of the door thereof during a cycleof operation when access to the washing chamber is desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved latchingand spring-biased hinging means for the door of a dishwasher.

These and other objects are eflected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automatically-cycled dishwasher having myinvention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the timing mechanism shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the timer along the line III-III ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the control handle structure, as viewed fromthe plane IV-IV in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the rear portion of the doorand vat and showing the spring-biased hinge structure for the door;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the door actuated latching mechanism,as viewed from the plane VIVI of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 6 and showing the latchingmechanism in different positions assumed during a door closing and doorOpening operation;

Fig. 10 is a view of the door latching mechanism, as viewed from theplane X-X in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 is a diagram of the electrical connections between the variouselectrical translating devices associated with the dishwasher.

Reference will now be had to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1thereof wherein I have elected to disclose my invention applied to adomestic dishwasher of the type having a motor-driven impeller. Thedishwasher includes a vat structure In including a front wall H, a rearwall l2 and a bottom wall 13, the walls of the vat l0 defining a washingchamber l4 therebetween. The top of the vat I0 is provided with arelatively large opening i5 through which access to the washing chamberI4 is obtained, which opening I5 is provided with a door or cover Itwhich is hinged to the vat structure It), as described hereinafter. Thevat I0 is suspended from a resilient gasket ll, the latter beingsupported by a band i8 which encompasses the upper margin of the vatIll. The band l8 may be supported in any well-understood manner, such asfor example, by the work surface of a conventional sink structure (notshown).

As shown, the bottom wall l3 slopes downwardly and inwardly to define asump l9 at the center of the bottom wall for containing a body ofwashing fluid. An impeller 2| of any well-understood construction isarrangod within the sump [9 for projecting the fluid therein upwardlywithin the washing chamber l4, which impeller 2| is driven by a verticalmotor 22. The latter is supported by means of a suitable bracketstructure 23 carried by the bottom wall l3.

Hot water from a suitable source is conveyed to the washing chamber l4through a conduit 24 which terminates in a nozzle structure 25 disposedin the upper portion of the chamber 14. A valve 26 is connected in theconduit 24 and is opened and closed by a solenoid 21 when energized anddeenergized, respectively. Vitiated fluid is discharged from the washingchamber I4 through a discharge valve, generally indicated at 28 and ofany well-understood construction. The latter is opened and closed by asolenoid 29 when deenergized and energized, respectively.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 5, the door I6 is hinged, as shown at 3|,to the rear wall l2 of the vat structure, the hinge 3| being secured tothe inner face of the rear wall 12 in any wellunderstood manner. Asdescribed hereinafter, the door It is latched when closed, and isautomatically moved to an open position when the latch mechanism ismanually or automatically released. The door I6 is biased to its openposition, as best shown in Figure 5, by a torsional spring 32 suitablysecured to the rear wall I2 and including a movable arm 33 which isbiased upwardly or clockwise at all times. A roller 34 engageable withthe inner face of the cover I is rotatably supported at the end of thearm 33. The torsional spring 32 is stressed to provide suflicient biasto actuate the door I! from the solid-line position shown in Figure 5,to the intermediate position of the door shown in dotted lines. Asdescribed hereinafter, this movement of the door is effected at the endof an automatic cycle in order to permit the discharge of steam andvapor from the washing chamber [4. The door I6 is manually actuated toits full open position, shown in dot-and-dash lines shown in Figure 5,in order for the operator to gain access to the washing chamber M.

In order to retain the door IS in its full open position, a projectingshoulder 35 is formed on the interior face of the door i6 over which theroller 34 rides as the door is moved from its intermediate to its fullopen position. It will be apparent that the roller moves inwardly withrespect to the door |6 toward the hinge 3| during an opening movement ofthe door since the center about which the roller 34 and the arm 33 moveis oifset with respect to the axis of the hinge 3|. The shoulder 35 isprovided with a surface 36 which is engaged by the roller 34 in the fullopen position of the door, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The surface 36is so shaped that when a downward force is imparted to the door |6manually, the roller 34 will ride out of engagement with the surface 36to permit the closing of the door. However, in the open position of thedoor, the turning moment due to the weight of the door is insufficientto move the roller 34 along the surface 36 against the bias of thespring 32.

The latching mechanism for the door l3 will now be described andreference is made particularly to Figures 1 and 6 to 10, inclusive. Asshown, a resilient strip or catch 31 is secured to the inner surface ofthe door l6 adjacent the front edge thereof and projects downwardlywithin the washing chamber i4 contiguous .the front wall The catch 31 isprovided at ,its lower end with a horizontally-extending lip 38 which isengageable with the head 39 of a bolt 4|. The latter projects through anelongated slot 42, preferably formed in a plate 43 which is riveted orotherwise secured to the front wall H of the vat. The bolt 4| is movableupwardly and downwardly in the slot 42 during the latching andunlatching operation and in order to prevent the escape of water throughthe slot 42, a resilient sealing diaphragm 44, preferably formed ofrubber, is provided. The diaphragm 44 is secured adjacent its peripherybetween the plate 43 and the front wall I I and at a central portionthereof to the movable bolt 4| in any wellunderstood manner. The slot 42is extended downward sufiiciently, as shown at 45, to insure completedrainage of any water which may accumulate in the space intermediate thediaphragm 44 and the plate 43.

Exteriorly of the front wall H, the bolt 4| is pivotally connected to aclevis 46 threaded on the upper end of a latching rod 41, the latterextending downwardly in front of the wall I l, as best shown in Figure'1. The bottom portion of the rod 41 extends through an opening 48formed in a latching plate 49 and is slotted, as shown, to define alatching surface 5| engageable with the latching plate 49. The latchingrod 41 is biased upwardly and to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, at alltimes by a tension spring 50.

The members of the latching mechanism just referred to are positioned,as shown in Fig. 6, when the door I6 is in its unlatched position. Itwill be apparent that the latching surface 5| of the rod 41 is out oflatching engagement with the plate 49 and that the spring 50 has biasedthe rod 41 upwardly in the opening 33. Accordingly, the bolt 4| extendsthrough the uppermost region of the slot 92. Movement of the door Itabout its hinge towards its closed pos tion first brings the lip 38 intoengagement with the top side of the bolt head 39, as shown in Figure 6.Continued downward movement of the door It forces the bolt 3| andlatching rod' i'i to the position shown in Figure '7 wherein thelatching surface 5| is below the plate 49 and in such position thatslight upward movement of the rod 41 will engage the latching surface 5|and the latching plate 49, as shown in Figure 1. As clearly shown inFigures 6 to 10, inclusive, the plate 43 is provided with a pair ofprojections 52 disposed on opposite sides of the slot 52 and alignedwith the lip 35. These projections 52 each include upper and lowercamming surfaces 53 and 53, respectively, which efiect flexing of theresilient catch 31 as the door It is moved between the positions shownin Figures 6 and 8.

As the door is moved from the position shown in Figure 6 to the positionshown in Figure '7, as described heretofore, the surfaces 53 cam theresilient catch 31 inwardly and disengage the lip 38 from the bolt head39 after the latching surface 5| of the rod 41 has been moved below the.plate 49. This releasing of the lip 38 and the bolt head 39 permits thespring 59 to move the latching rod 47 upwardly a small amount to engage.the latching surface 5| and the plate 99. The operations just describedare effected during a first stage in the closing range of movement-ofthe door It and, during a second stage, the door I3 is engaged with thegasket l1 and the lip 38 passes beneath and engages the under surface ofthe bolt head 39, as shown in Figure 8. This is the latched position ofthe door It. During the latching operation just described, it will beapparent that the flexible diaphragm 44 is flexed downwardly andupwardly as the bolt 4! moves within the slot 42.

Unlatching of the door i6 is eifected by moving the latching rod 47 tothe right, as viewed in Figure 1, sufficiently to disengage the latchingsurface 5| and the latching plate 49. The means for moving the rod 41 toits unlatched position will be described hereinafter. Upon disengagementof the latching surface 5| and the plate 49, the spring 59 moves thelatching rod 41 and the bolt 4| upwardly. During the first stage of theopening range of movement, these members move from the latched positionshown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9. The door It, theresilient catch 31 and the lip 38 move upwardly in engagement with thebolt head 39 until the camming surface 54 has cammed the lip 38 out ofengagement with the head 39, as shown in Figure 9. Disengagement of thelip 38 and bolt head 39 uncouples the door l6 from the latchingmechanism and permits the door-actuating spring 32 to move the door Hito its intermediate position shown in Figure 5 and described heretofore.

The means for manually unlatching the rod 41 and latching plate 49includes a handle 55 normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1

and movable to Start" and Stop positions for respectively initiating andterminating operation of the dishwasher, as described hereinafter. Thehandle 55 is also employed to unlatch the door i6 of the dishwasher atall times regardless of whether the dishwasher is operating or inactive.An arm 56, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is fixed to and movable withthe handle 55. The handle 65 is movably supported on a stud 51 securedto a plate 58, the latter being fixed to the front wall II of the vat IDin any well-understood manner. The handle 55 is biased to itsintermediate position, as shown, by a pair of fingers 59 biased togetherby a tension spring 6|. The fingers 59 are movably carried by the stud51 and are provided with respective slots 62 which encompass stop pins88 carried by the plate 58. As the ends of the fingers 59 engage the arm55, it will be apparent that, as the handle 55 is moved counterclockwiseto the "Stop position, the upper finger 59 will be restrained by itsstop pin 83 while the lower finger 59 will move downwardly with the arm56. When the handle 55 is released, the spring 6| returns the lowerfinger 59 and the arm 56 to the position shown. As the handle 55 isswung clockwise, the lower finger 59 is restrained by its stop pin 63,while the upper finger 59 moves upwardly with the arm 55.

Movement of the arm 56 is imparted to a rod 54 which extends downwardlyin front of the front wall H and which is provided with a shoulder 65.When the handle 55 is moved to its Stop" position, the shoulder 65engages a pivoted trigger 68 and moves the latter counterclockwise aboutits pivot 61. The trigger 56, through a push rod 68, moves the latchingrod 41 to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, for unlatching the rod 41 fromthe latching plate 49. When the handle 55 is released, the shoulder 55returns to the position as shown in the drawing. Latching of the coveris effected by manually depressing the cover to its closed position, asdescribed heretofore.

As described hereinafter, the rod 41 is unlatched automatically from thelatching plate 49 at the conclusion of a washing cycle. During a washingcycle, a solenoid is energized for maintaining its armature 12 to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the bias of a fiat spring". At theconclusion of the washing cycle, the solenoid H is deenergized and thespring 18 rapidly moves the armature 12 to the right. The spring 18 iseffective only to initiate movement of the armature l2 and the inertiaof the latter carries it into engagement with the rod 41. This blowdisengages the rod 41 from the latching plate 49.

As shown in Fig. 1, a frame or housing I4 extends beneath the latchingplate 49 for enclosing the solenoid 'II and a line switch 15, to bereferred to hereinafter in connection with the operation of the timer.As shown, the switch I5 is engaged by the rod 41 and maintained in itsclosed position during periods when the rod 41 is latched to the plate49. The switch is spring biased to its open position at all times sothat, when the rod 41 is moved upwardly to the unlatched position, theswitch 15 opens. The frame 14 is carried by a pair of lugs I6 which aresecured, in any well-understood manner, to the front wall II. I

Energization of the various electrical translating devices referred toheretofore is controlled by a timer, generally indicated at 11, andcarried. as shown, by a bracket I8 secured to the motor 22. The timer I1is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 and includes a housing structure 18within which a rotatable cam shaft I9 is disposed. A plurality of cams8| to 84, inclusive, are fixed to the shaft 19 and actuate respectiveswitches 85 to 88, inclusive, the latter being carried by an insulatingend wall 89 of the housing 18. It will be understood that the switches85 to 88, inclusive, are biased to their open positions and 6 are closedwhen engaged by the lobes of their respective cams.

Rotation of the cam shaft 19 is effected by a motor 9| of the typecommonly employed for driving clocks. The motor drives at relatively lowspeed a pinion 92 which meshes with a gear 93, the latter running freelyupon the cam shaft 19 and clutched thereto in any suitable manner, suchas, for example, by a suitable spring clutch 94. As describedhereinafter, operation of the timer is initiated by moving the camsangularly in counterclockwise direction an amount sufficient to closethe switch 85, the clutch 94 permitting movement of the shaft I9relative the gear 98. The means for effecting this counterclockwisestarting movement includes a disc 95 fixed to the cam shaft and providedwith a ratchet tooth 98. A spring-pressed pawl 91 is pivotally carried,as shown at 98, to a movable arm 99, the latter being movably carried bythe cam shaft '19. As shown in Fig. 3, the arm 99 is pivoted at |0| tothe lower end of the rod 64.

The diagram of the electrical connections controlled by the timer isshown in Fig. 11, to which reference will now be had. The source ofpower for the apparatus is designated by line conductors L1 and 12,which may, for example,

extend to an attachment plug (not shown) and which is connectible to aresidential lighting circuit. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, one terminaleach of the timer motor 9|, the door latch solenoid II, the water valvesolenoid 21, the drain valve solenoid 29 and the main motor 22 aredirectly connected to the line conductor L2. The opposite terminals ofthe timer motor 9| and the door latch solenoid H are connected by aconductor I02 which connects with the load side of the switch 85. Theload sides of the switches 86 and 81 are connected respectively to theopposite terminals of the water valve solenoid 21 and the drain valvesolenoid 29, and the load side of the switch 88 is directly connected tothe other terminal of the main motor 22. A conductor I03 electricallyconnects the line sides of the switches 85, 86 and 88 and this conductor03 is connected to the line conductor L1 through the switch 15. The lineside of the switch 87 is directly connected to the line conductor L1 bya conductor I04.

In initiating operation of the dishwasher, the tableware is disposed inupper and lower racks of any well-understood construction and indicatedat I05 and I96 in Fig. 1. The cover I6 is then latched shut manually, asdescribed heretofore, and the control handle 55 adjusted to its Startposition. This movement of the control handle raises the rod 64 andactuates the arm 99 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, to advancethe cams sufficiently from the position shown in Fig. 11 to close theswitches 85, 86 and 88. From Fig. 11, it will be seen that the lobe ofthe cam 8| closes switch 85 for energizing the timer motor 9| and thedoor latch solenoid continuously throughout the cycle or during a360-degree movement of the cam shaft I9. The lobe 82a of the cam 82closes the switch 86 for energizing the solenoid 21 of the inlet valve.The lobe of the cam 84 closes the switch 88 for energizing the mainmotor 22, which continues operation for a substantial portion of thetotal length of the cycle. Accordingly, water is admitted to the washingchamber I4 for flushing loose soils from the tableware and for clearingthe piping between the dishwasher and the hot water tank of all coldwater. At this time, it

will be understood that the drain valve 28 is deenergized and,therefore, open. After a predetermined period of flush rinsing, the lobe82a is disengaged from the switch 81, whereupon the latter opens todeenergize the solenoid 28 and to close the water valve 26. At this timeall water within the vat I8 is passed to the drain. After a period ofdraining of suflicient duration to drain all flushing water from the vatill. the lobe 82b closes the switch 88 so that the water valve is againopened for a period of time suflicient to admit the proper amount of hotwater to the vat. At the time the lobe 82b closes the switch 86 or justprior to this operation, the lobe 83a closes the switch 81 for closingthe drain valve 28. Water accumulates in the sump l9 until the lobe 82beffects deenergization of the water inlet valve solenoid 21. The rapidlyrotating impeller 2i projects the collected water throughout the washingchamber H for a predetermined period of time during which the dishes arecleaned, as is well understood.

The washing operation is terminated when the lobe 83a efiects theopening of the switch 81, whereupon the drain valve solenoid 29 isdeenergized and the drain valve is opened. Vitiated washing water isdischarged from the vat. While the drain valve is open, a lobe 82ceffects the closing of switch 86 and the energization of the water valvesolenoid 21. Accordingly, the water valve is opened and the flushingwater admitted to the vat passes directly to drain until the drain valveis again closed. The latter operation is effected when a lobe 83b closesthe switch 81. A body of rinsing water is now collected, the admissionof which is terminated when the lobe 82a effects the opening of theswitch 88. The rinse water is projected over the dishes for rinsing thesame for a period of time, or until the lobe 83b efiects the opening ofswitch 81 and the opening of the drain valve.

A second rinsing operation, similar to the one just described, iseffected by cam lobes 83c and 82d. This rinsing operation is similar tothe first rinsing operation except that operation of the impeller isterminated just prior to the opening of the drain valve. It has beenfound that this second rinsing operation will be more effective if thefinal draining of the rinse water is carried out while the body of waterin the vat is in a quiescent state. In other words, if the impeller isoperated with progressively reducing quantities of water, there is agreater tendency for minute food particles which may remain in the vatto cling to the dishes. Accordingly, the lobe of the cam 84 is so formedthat the switch 88 is opened to terminate operation of motor 22 andimpeller 2| just prior to the opening of the switch 81 by the lobe 830.The sequential operation of the impeller and drain valve just describedis disclosed and claimed in the copending application of James GaleIdle, Serial No. 710,972, filed November 20, 1946, now abandoned. Thecomplete cycle is terminated, of course, when the cam 8| effects theopening of the switch 85. The cams 8| to 84, inclusive, and the ratchetdisc 95 are now in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 11. The opening ofswitch 85 terminates operation of the timer motor and deenergizes thedoor latch solenoid II, whereupon the door It of the dishwasher is swungto its intermediate position shown in Fig. 5, as described heretofore.

If at any time during a cycle of operation, the operator desires accessto the vat, the handle 55 is moved to its Stop" position for unlatchingthe door i8 and for opening the line switch 15. From Fig. 11, it will beapparent that when the line switch 15 is opened, the common conductori8! is deenergized so that all apparatus except the drain valve solenoid28 is deenergized. By maintaining the drain valve solenoid 29 energized,the drain valve 28 is maintained closed for retaining the body ofwashing or rinsing fluid in the vat. The cycle is again started from thepoint at which it was interrupted by latching the door 18 closed,whereupon the switch 15 closes, as described, for energizing conductorI83 and the apparatus served thereby.

Reference is made to my copending application, Serial No. 662,852, filedApril 17, 1946, now abandoned, disclosing and claiming a dishwashercontrolled by a timer having a line switch movable to an Ofl positionfor terminating the cycle without deenergizing and opening the drainvalve.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have providedan improved automatically-controlled washing apparatus wherein improveddoor-latching means is interlocked with the timing means to preventoperation of the washing means when the door is open and wherein thedoor is opened automatically at the conclusion of the washing cycle. Thearrangement is such that the door may be opened at the will of theoperator by operating a handle which is common to the latching mechanismand the timer mechanism. In the event the door is opened during awashing cycle, operation of the apparatus is terminated withoutdischarging the washing solution in the vat and, upon closing the door.the cycle of events is again started from the point at which it wasinterrupted. The door opening means efiects partial opening of the doorwhen automatically operated at the end of a cycle for the escape ofvapor from the vat, said means including a stop for retaining the doorin its full open position after actuation thereof manually to suchposition.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof. 1

What I claim is:

1. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening therein, a door for closing said opening, means foradmitting washing fluid to the vat, means for draining vitiated fluidfrom the vat, means for washing the material in the vat, a timer forselectively operating said fluid-admitting means, said fluid-drainingmeans and the washing means to provide a sequence of steps in a washingprogram, means for latching said door in response to movement thereof toclosed position, means for releasing the latching means at theconclusion of the washing program and actuated by said timer, meansincluding a handle movable to respective starting and stopping positionsfor initiating and terminating operation of the timer and meansresponsive to movement of the handle to its stopping position forreleasing the latching means independently of said timer operatedreleasing means.

2. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening therein, a door for closing said opening,electrically-operated inlet valve means for com trolling admission offluid to the vat, electricallyoperated drain valve means for controllingthe discharge of vitiated fluid from the vat, means for washing thematerial being treated and including an electric motor, motor-driventiming means for selectively energizing and deenergizing the inletvalve, drain valve and said washing means to provide a sequence of stepsin a washing program, a latch mechanism for retaining said door inclosed position, electro-responsive means for releasing said latchmechanism at the end of the washing program and controlled by the timingmeans, a switch movable to an open position for deenergizing saidelectric motor and said inlet valve independently oi. the timing means,means including a control handle movable to a starting position forinitiating operation f said timing means, said handle being movable to astopping position for opening said switch, and means responsive tomovement of said handle to its stopping position for releasing saidlatch mechanism.

3. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening formed therein, a door for closing said opening, anelectrically-operated inlet valve for controlling admission of fluid tothe vat, an electrically-operated drain valve for controlling thedischarge of vitiated fluid from the vat, means including an electricmotor for washing the material in the vat, switching means forsequentially energizing and deenergizing said valve and said motor toprovide a series of steps in a washing program, a timing motor mechanismfor driving said switching means, latching means for retaining said doorin its closed position, a control handle movable from a first positionto starting and stopping positions, means responsive to movement of saidhandle to its starting position for initiating operation of the timingmotor mechanism, means responsive to movement of said handle to itsstopping position for releasing said latching means, a line switchconnected in series with said motor and said inlet valve, meansresponsive to movement of said handle t its stopping position foropening said line switch, and a solenoid for actuating said latch to itsunlatching position at the conclusion of a washing cycle, said solenoidbeing controlled by said switching means.

4. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening formed therein, a door for closing said opening andbiased to its open position, an electrically-operated inlet valvecontrolling admission of fluid to the vat and open and closed whenenergized and deenergized, respectively, an electrically-operated drainvalve controlling discharge of fluid from thevat and open and closedwhen deenergized and energized, respectively, means including anelectric motor for washing material in the vat, switching means forselectively energizing and deenergizing said electrically-operatedvalves and said motor to provide a sequence of steps in a washingprogram, a motor-driven timing mechanism for driving said switchingmeans, a latching mechanism for retaining the door closed when thelatter is manually moved to its closed position, electricallyoperatedmeans controlled by said switching means for releasing said latchingmechanism at the conclusion of the washing program, manually-operatedcontrol means including a handle movable from a neutral position to astarting position for initiating operation of the timing mechanism, saidhandle being manually movable at will to a stopping position, a lineswitch connected in series with said electric motor and saidelectrically-operated inlet valve, means effective in the latchedposition of the door for closing the line switch and effective in theunlatched position of the door for opening the line switch, and meansresponsive to movement of said handle to said stopping position forreleasing said latching mechanism independently of saidelectricallyoperated releasing mechanism.

5. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing Water and the material to be cleaned, said vat having anacces opening formed therein, a door for closing said opening, meansincluding an electricallyoperated valve for admitting water to the vat,electrically-operated means for draining water from the vat, motordriven means for washing the material in the vat, a motor drivensequence switch for selectively operating said electricallyoperatedvalve, the electrically-operated fluid draining means, and said motordriven washing means to provide a sequence of steps in a washingprogram, means for latching said door closed in response to manualmovement of the door to its closed position, solenoid operated means forreleasing the latching means at the conclusion of the washing programand controlled by said sequence switch, manually operated meansincluding a handle movable to respective starting and stopping positionsfor initiating and terminating operation of the motor driven washingmeans and means responsive to movement of the handle to its stoppingposition for releasing said latching means independently of saidsolenoid operatedmeans.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said electricallyoperated valve is open and closed when energized and deenergized,respectively, and wherein said manually operated means is effective todeenergize and close said electrically-operated valve when said handleis actuated to its stopping position.

'7. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening therein, a door for closing said opening, means foradmitting washing fluid to the vat, means for draining vitiated, fluidfrom the vat, electrically-operated means for washing the material inthe vat, a timer for selectively operating said fluid-admitting means,said fluiddraining means and the washing means to provide a sequence ofsteps in a washing program, means for latching said door in response tomovement thereof to closed position, a line switch controlling saidwashing means and movable to closed and open positions in response tomovement of the door to closed and open positions, respectively, acontrol handle movable to a starting position, a stopping position and aneutral position, means responsive to movement of said handle from itsneutral position to its starting position for initiating operation ofthe timer and mean responsive to movement of said handle to its stoppingposition for releasing said latching means.

8. In washing apparatus, the combination of a vat for containing a bodyof washing fluid and the material to be washed, said vat having anaccess opening therein, a door for closing said opening,electrically-operated means for admitting washing fluid to the vat,electrically-operated means for draining vitiated fluid from the vat,electrically-operated means for washing the material in the vat, atiming mechanism including a plurality of movable switch elements forrespectively controlling operation of the fluidadmitting means, thefluid-draining means and said washing means, means responsive tomovement oi the switch elements from an inactive station to a startingstation for initiating operation of the timing mechanism, means forlatching the door in response to movement thereof to a closed position,a line switch controlling said washing means and movable to closed andopen positions in response to movement of the door to closed and openpositions, respectively, a control handle movable to a startingposition, a stopping position and a neutral position, means responsiveto movement of said handle from its neutral position to its startingposition for actuating said switch elements from the inactive station tthe starting station thereof, and means including a lost motionmechanism connecting said handle and said latching means, said lostmotion mecha- L EARL K. CLARK.

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